How Should Beginners Choose Their First Cigar Brand?
How Should Beginners Choose Their First Cigar Brand?
"I want to try cigars, but I don't know how to start"—this is a question W Cigar Bar hears 5-10 times every week.
Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai uses three simple dimensions to help you choose the right first cigar.
Dimension 1: Budget
Cigar prices vary greatly, ranging from $200 NT to $30,000 NT per stick. For beginners, the first cigar is recommended:
Entry Level ($300-700 NT per stick)
- Macanudo Café (Dominican Republic) — starting at $350
- Romeo y Julieta No. 4 (Cuban official import) — starting at $650
- Arturo Fuente Curly Head (Dominican Republic) — starting at $400
Advanced Entry ($800-1,500 NT per stick)
- Cohiba Siglo II (Cuban PCC import) — starting at $1,200
- Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 (Dominican Republic) — starting at $1,400
- Montecristo No. 4 (Cuban PCC import) — starting at $1,200
Don't buy cigars over $2,000 for the first time—before you develop an appreciation, buying expensive cigars is like wasting good things.
Dimension 2: Strength
The most common mistake beginners make: choosing Full strength—guaranteed dizziness, discomfort, and a bad impression.
First Week for Beginners: Mild to Mild-Medium
Safe Choices List:
- Macanudo Café (Mild)
- Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 (Mild-Medium)
- Cohiba Siglo II (Mild-Medium)
- Romeo y Julieta No. 4 (Medium)
- Montecristo No. 4 (Medium)
Avoid (for beginners):
- Liga Privada T52 (Full)
- Padrón 1926 Series No. 1 (Full)
- My Father Le Bijou 1922 (Full)
- Any dark wrapper labeled "Maduro" or "Oscuro"
Dimension 3: Region Style
Each region has its own "flavor personality":
Cuba
- Characteristics: Earthy, leather, coffee, nuts, complex layers
- Beginner Friendliness: ★★★★ (suitable for those who like complex flavors)
- Representatives: Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta
Dominican Republic
- Characteristics: Creamy, floral, nutty, balanced, approachable
- Beginner Friendliness: ★★★★★ (easiest to start with)
- Representatives: Macanudo, Davidoff, Arturo Fuente
Nicaragua
- Characteristics: Spicy pepper, soil, strong, robust
- Beginner Friendliness: ★★★ (strength tends to be strong)
- Representatives: Padrón, My Father, Joya de Nicaragua
Honduras
- Characteristics: Thick, earthy, smoky, traditional
- Beginner Friendliness: ★★★
- Representatives: Camacho, Punch (Honduran version)
Cigar Prince's "3 Cigar Beginner Set"
If you can only choose 3 to try:
Cigar 1: Macanudo Café Hyde Park (Dominican Republic, Mild)
- $400 NT
- 30 minutes to finish
- Friendly and burden-free
Cigar 2: Cohiba Siglo II (Cuba, Mild-Medium)
- $1,200 NT
- 40 minutes to finish
- Experience Cuban classics
Cigar 3: Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 (Dominican Republic, Mild-Medium)
- $1,400 NT
- 50 minutes to finish
- Swiss luxury craftsmanship
After finishing these 3, you will roughly know which style you like—then you can delve deeper based on your preferences.
Where to Buy?
Important: Always buy your first cigar from a legitimate source. The Taiwanese market is full of counterfeits, and 95% of "Cuban cigars" seen in grocery stores and convenience stores are fake.
Legitimate Sources:
- W Cigar Bar (Da'an District, Taipei) — Four major official Cuban cigar channels (PCC authorized dealer, Cuban official state store, Swiss general agent, Spanish general agent)
- PCC Direct Stores (Taipei, Kaohsiung)
- Davidoff Flagship Store (Taipei)
W Cigar Bar offers a "Beginner Experience Menu"—single stick trials, no need to buy a whole box, personally guided by Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai.
Conclusion
Choosing your first cigar is not about "buying the most expensive," but about "choosing what suits your current stage best."
Budget + Strength + Region—once these three dimensions are framed, you won't choose the wrong first cigar.
W Cigar Bar · Da'an District, Taipei · Four major official procurement channels · LUBINSKI Italian accessories general agent · Cigar wine and dine.
Warning: Smoking is harmful to health, quit smoking hotline 0800-636363.
